Epstein concealed computers in storage units throughout Palm Beach County and beyond

Jeffrey Epstein secretly moved multiple computers from his Palm Beach mansion to storage units across the county and beyond using private investigators, leaving investigators uncertain about their contents and current whereabouts years after his death.

During a search of Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach mansion, law enforcement officers from the Palm Beach Police Department discovered that the computers investigators hoped to find were already removed. Three computers were missing, leaving behind only disconnected keyboards and cables.

Use of Private Investigators to Relocate Computers

Recent documentation indicates Epstein hired private investigators to remove the computers and store them in various units across Palm Beach County and other unspecified locations. Records confirm that Epstein continued paying for a storage facility in Royal Palm Beach on a monthly basis until 2019, the year of his death in a Manhattan jail cell while facing federal sex-trafficking charges.

Responses from Federal Agencies

When questioned on February 24 regarding whether the FBI had examined any of Epstein's storage units or recovered the computers removed in 2005, the FBI referred all inquiries to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Department of Justice did not provide a comment. Stephen Kiraly, a private investigator from Pinellas County whose firm handled the computers, declined to discuss the matter, citing state law restrictions that require client or estate consent.

Handling of Computers by Epstein’s Team

Investigators determined that a Miami-based private investigator, Paul Lavery, removed the computers from Epstein's residence and delivered them to Bill Riley of Riley Kiraly. An email from Riley to Epstein confirmed that the computers were secured in storage and asked for instructions regarding their disposition. Lavery later wrote in 2007 handwritten notes that he had delivered the computers to Riley’s office and did not see the equipment again.

Legal Implications and Grand Jury Subpoenas

Federal prosecutors believed that the missing computers may have contained critical evidence tied to Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking operation, including:

• Emails coordinating encounters with minors
• Financial transaction records
• Surveillance footage from Epstein’s mansion

By 2007, a federal grand jury had issued subpoenas requiring private investigators to produce all computers removed from Epstein’s Palm Beach residence, any computers previously owned by Epstein, and related professional records. Epstein’s attorneys, who retained the investigators, attempted to quash the subpoenas, claiming compliance would violate constitutional protections and attorney-client privilege.

Attorney-Client Privilege and Forensic Copies

Epstein’s legal team argued that the computers contained attorney-client communications and work product. Releasing the devices could have forced self-incrimination and granted prosecutors access to unrelated private information. Epstein’s attorneys also sought to duplicate the computers. Court documents indicate that a computer forensics expert, David Kleiman, requested to use a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office hard drive duplication system in July 2007 to make copies of the computers, but the request was denied due to equipment reliability concerns and reported to the FBI.

Financial Records for Storage Units

Financial records show Epstein paid over $370 per month to a storage facility known as Uncle Bob’s from at least 2003 to 2015, with a final payment recorded in 2016. Another storage unit in Royal Palm Beach was rented for roughly $140 per month and remained active until shortly before Epstein’s death.

FBI Searches and Investigative Findings

The FBI has not publicly confirmed if any of Epstein’s storage units were ever searched. Following property raids in 2019, law enforcement seized multiple electronic devices but reportedly did not find materials indicating blackmail or recordings of victim abuse. Available records do not clarify whether the storage units’ contents were destroyed, moved, or retained by Epstein’s estate after his death.

Summary

Jeffrey Epstein’s use of private investigators and storage facilities to relocate and secure his computers highlights the complex handling of evidence potentially linked to criminal allegations. Despite legal and investigative efforts, the final status of these computers remains uncertain, including questions about their contents and availability to authorities.

Sources:

• Epstein hid trove of evidence from investigators for more than a decade, documents suggest - ABC7 Los Angeles
• Revealed: The contents of Epstein’s secret storage locker - The Telegraph
• Exclusive: Epstein hid secret files in storage units across US - The Telegraph
• Epstein hid computers in storage units in Palm Beach County and beyond

Author: Ava Mitchell
Ava Mitchell is a journalist covering culture, art, and literature. She is known for her creative approach and ability to produce in-depth features and interviews.